Multipurpose security device and associated methods

Abstract

A security device for protecting a merchandise item against theft typically includes a pair of clamping members, a cable extending between the clamping members, and a tightening mechanism for tightening the cable to cause the clamping members to move toward one another and clamp onto the merchandise item. One of the clamping members typically serves as a housing containing the tightening mechanism, which may include a spool, a lock slide for releasably securing the spool and a locking mechanism for releasably securing the lock slide. The locking mechanism may be unlocked with a magnetic key. The security device is typically configured to set off an alarm upon tampering or attempted removal of the item and security device from a store.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A security device comprising:
 a housing having a front housing surface and a back housing surface; 
 a cable; 
 a spool which is within the housing and rotatable in a winding direction for winding the cable onto the spool and an unwinding direction for unwinding the cable from the spool; 
 a block having a bottom slide surface, a top slide surface, and a plurality of tabs, wherein the block defines a cavity having an entrance defined between the plurality of tabs; 
 a lock slide which is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and comprises a lock slide body; 
 a locking portion having a body with a plurality of locking teeth, wherein the locking portion defines a hole opposite the locking teeth, wherein the locking portion further includes stop members configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of tabs of the block; and 
 a spring extending through the hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The security device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 compressible pads formed of an elastomer; and 
 a manually engageable button extending outwardly from the block. 
 
     
     
       3. The security device of  claim 2 , wherein the lock slide body is not spring biased to the disengaged position. 
     
     
       4. The security device of  claim 1  wherein the housing defines a through opening; and the lock slide body comprises a finger tab within the through opening and externally accessible for manual engagement and movement of the lock slide. 
     
     
       5. The security device of  claim 4  wherein the finger tab permits manual movement of the lock slide from the engaged position to the disengaged position. 
     
     
       6. The security device of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism moves from the unlocked position to the locked position in response to movement of the slide lock from the disengaged position to the engaged position. 
     
     
       7. The security device of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism is spring biased to the locked position. 
     
     
       8. The security device of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism moves from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to a magnet positioned adjacent the locking mechanism. 
     
     
       9. The security device of  claim 1  wherein the housing defines first and second through holes; the cable extends from the spool out of the housing through the first through hole and back into the housing through the second through hole to a first end which is permanently secured within the housing so that no portion of the cable which extends into the housing from the second through hole engages the spool. 
     
     
       10. The security device of  claim 1  further comprising a first through hole formed in the housing; a compressible pad outside the housing; a second through hole formed in the pad; wherein the cable extends from the spool through the first and second through holes. 
     
     
       11. The security device of  claim 1  wherein the housing serves as a first clamping member; further comprising a second clamping member positioned so that the first and second clamping members define therebetween an item receiving space adapted to receive a portion of a merchandise item; wherein the second clamping member moves toward the first clamping member in response to the cable winding onto the spool so that the first and second clamping members are configured to clamp therebetween the portion of the merchandise item. 
     
     
       12. The security device of  claim 11  wherein one of the clamping members is bendable under force applied by the cable to allow the bendable clamping member to bend around the merchandise item when the merchandise is clamped between the clamping members. 
     
     
       13. The security device of  claim 11  further comprising a first compressible pad which is between the clamping members and adapted to engage the merchandise item when the clamping members are in a clamped position. 
     
     
       14. The security device of  claim 13  further comprising a second compressible pad which is between the clamping members and adapted to engage the merchandise item when the clamping members are in the clamped position. 
     
     
       15. The security device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tabs extend toward one another. 
     
     
       16. The security device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is movably mounted on the block. 
     
     
       17. A security device comprising:
 a rotatable spool; 
 an EAS tag; 
 a block having a bottom surface, a top surface, and at least two tabs, wherein a cavity is defined within the block; 
 a locking portion having a body with a plurality of locking teeth,
 wherein the locking portion defines a hole opposite the locking teeth, 
 wherein the locking portion further includes stop members configured to engage with at least one of the at least two tabs; and 
 a spring extending through the hole. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The security device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 compressible pads formed of an elastomer; and
 a manually engageable button extending outwardly from the block. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The security device of  claim 17 , wherein the housing defines a through opening; and
 the lock slide body comprises a finger tab within the through opening and externally accessible for manual engagement and movement of the lock slide. 
 
     
     
       20. The security device of  claim 19 , wherein the finger tab permits manual movement of the lock slide from the engaged position to the disengaged position.